Language

Most of the older population speak Latvian & Russian, some speak German and occasionally English. In the Old Town, younger people involved in the tourist trade will usually understand English quite well and lots of restaurant menu's are available in English.

Outside of Old Riga and away from tourist areas, English is much less common, some Russian or Latvian phrases will be very helpful.

Latvian, is an Indo-European language. This doesn't mean it's easier to speak, but at least it is in the same area as German, English and most other European languages. Latvian is related to Lithuanian, and people from the two nations can roughly understand each other. The stress is almost always on the first syllable.

Ya/Yes 

Nay/No

Sveiki/Hello

Visu labu/Bye

Labdien/Good day

Ludzu/Please Paldies/Thanks

Te/here

Jus/You (formal)

Tu/You (informal)

Mani sauc/My name is....

Ka tev iet?/How are you?

Es nesaprotu/I don’t understand

Vai Jus runajat angliski?/ Do you speak English?

Kur atrodas ...?/Where is ...?

Iela/Street 

Laukums/Square

Nauda/Money

Es veletos/ I would like...

Cik tas maksa/How much does it cost? 

Atverts/Open 

Slegts/Closed

Restorans/Restaurant 

Kafejnica/Café

Alus/Beer 

Sula/Juice

Mineraludens/Mineral Water

Piens/Milk 

Gala/Meat 

Maize/Bread

Ludzu, rekinu/The bill please

Prieka/Cheers

viens/one divi/two tris/three cetri/four pieci/five sesi/six septini/seven astoni/eight devini/nine desmit/ten simts/100 tukstotis/1000